Tribunal Orders Re-run in Warri South LGA B/W Ejele/Joel within 90 Days

Tribunal Orders Re-run in Warri South LGA B/W Ejele/Joel within 90 Days

Asaba_____ The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Delta State on Wednesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election in Warri South LGA of Delta South senatorial district within 90 days.

The tribunal declared that the election which produced Senator Joel Thomas-Onowakpo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the senator representing Delta South Senatorial District was inconclusive.

A three-man panel headed by Justice Cathrine Ogunsola gave the ruling while delivering judgement in the case filed by Mr. Michael Diden alias Ejele of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Senator Onowakpo of the APC in Asaba, Delta State.

Reading the judgement, Justice Ogunsola, also set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Senator Onowakpo pending the outcome of the supplementary election to be conducted by INEC in Warri South LGA.

Ejele, dissatisfied by the outcome of the senatorial election in Delta South, filed a petition marked EPT/DT/SEN/01/2023 before the tribunal, urging it to declare him as duly elected senator or in the alternative, the tribunal should order supplementary poll for the disputed Warri South council.

INEC had during the declaration of Onowakpo as winner of the election, cancelled the result for Warri South on ground that the result was not supported by accreditation.

But the tribunal held that Onowakpo was not duly elected by lawful votes cast, adding that the votes for Warri South were wrongfully cancelled.

Justice Ogunsola held that cancellation of results could only be done by supervising polling unit officer, and not at the local government collation level.

The tribunal lampooned the respondents particularly INEC for insisting that there was no accreditation in Warri South when the same electoral body accepted the results for the presidential and House of Representatives elections that held simultaneously with that of the Senate.

Justice Ogunsola held that the petitioners were able to prove that election was conducted in Warri South, adding that the respondents cannot continue to hide under the generic term of no accreditation to cancel the poll in the said locality.

The tribunal further held that even the respondents could not prove the allegation of no accreditation in Warri South which they so shouted, insisting that it will be a travesty of justice for INEC to declare that there was no senatorial election in the area while holding that there was presidential and House of Representatives election in the same locality.

Our correspondent learned  that the margin of lead in the said election is about 2,000 votes, whereas the total number of voters who collected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Warri South is over 60,000.

Earlier, Justice Ogunsola dismissed the cross petition brought by Onowakpo, alleging that the credentials submitted to INEC by Diden were forged.

Tompolo: IYC Urges Northern Elders to Call Arewa Youths to Order for Peace to Reign in Nigeria

Tompolo: IYC Urges Northern Elders to Call Arewa Youths to Order for Peace to Reign in Nigeria 

A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON THIS 6TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 IN WARRI BY THE IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL (IYC) WORLDWIDE AS A  RESPONSE TO THE NORTHERN YOUTH ADVOCACY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE AND AREWA YOUTH FORUM ON THEIR MISGUIDED PROTEST AGAINST THE PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE  SECURITY CONTRACT.

1. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide is compelled to address the press on the very provocative utterances made by  the Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum against the Niger Delta people over the issue of award of surveillance contract and the shared ignorance displayed by the Northern group over the development in oil and gas industry.

2. It is not the style of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide to join issues with fellow youth organisations in Nigeria that are supposed to be partners in progress in achieving the Nigeria of our dream and to respond to every tom, dick and harry but because such untrue and politically motivated utterances are coming from groups like the Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum, there is every need for the IYC to respond by setting the records straight. 

3. That as Ijaw people and Niger Deltans whose lands the Oil and gas flows from, we find it strange and insulting to see Northern Youths that are from a region without oil staging protest against a pipeline surveillance contract in Niger Delta and in the process deciding on who to give and not to give with a lot of provocative remarks against our region and our respected leader. 

4. The Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum must know their boundary in this country, they should keep clear from activities of the Niger Delta, particularly to the Ijaw people. We will not be tolerating this all the time. The Ijaw Youth Council have never protested against any Northerner not to be given contract in his place or region. We have had too many of these kind of misguided protests against our people from the Northern Youths. We can still recall vividly how Northern Youths in 2022 protested against this contract not to be given to Niger Deltans. 

5. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC ) Worldwide will never allow anyone or group of persons particularly in this present administration and beyond to shortchange any Ijaw man or woman. Any attempt of such will be resisted by any means necessary. Guiding pipeline in our communities for the Federal Government of Nigeria is not even something that we are supposed to fight and struggle to get, it should be our right and Northern Youths do not have the right to even talk about it.  The agitation now is that soon we will be fighting to have control over the resources in our lands. 

6. We are calling on the Northern Elders Forum to call their children to order, because we do not know how long we will be tolerating this all the time, even the patient dog has a limit to his patience, a word they say is enough for the wise. 

7. The Ijaw Youth Council is well aware that for years now, there has been gold mining in Zamfara, Abuja, Bauchi, Osun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Oyo, Kogi and Kaduna states etc, till date nothing is being remitted to the coffers of the federation in any way and nobody is saying anything about it. But the Niger Delta oil and gas has right from time become public where every tom, dick and harry lay claims and have something to say. 

8. However, we are calling on His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, President Federal Republic of Nigeria who has demonstrated commitment to midwife the best for Nigeria to completely disregard and ignore the Northern Youths and their sponsors, as the protest is taggetted to mislead him into taking wrong decision that may set Nigeria on fire. 

9. Let us sound it clearly again that it is not only an Ijaw son that is handling Pipline Surveillance Security contract in Nigeria, Niger Delta, why would they be protesting against the Ijaws always when the said facilties are even in their lands and they are delivering fully on the job.

10. To us as Ijaw Youths, while we will continue to preach peace and one Nigeria, we cannot seat idle and watch people trying to act as if they are more important than others. The Niger Delta and the Ijaw people must be treated with special care. We cannot play second fiddle to anyone in this country. 

11. We have never seen anywhere in this country where the Northern and Arewa Youths are staging protest against the insecurity that has plagued the Northern part of the country for  years now but will be quick to speak on Niger Delta issues with all forms of impunity and audacity. This act must stop now.

12. The Federal Government of Nigeria is clearly aware and the records are with them on whether there is an improvement since the Ijaws began to protect the facilities in the region. Whether people comes with their gimmicks or not, the truth remains the truth. The oil revenue has no doubt increased astronomically within the last one year. 

13. Finally, while the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide will continue to be neutral and fair to all Ijaw leaders, we are appealing that our leaders must be seen working together for a stronger Ijaw nation, our strength lies in our unity. Ijaw nation needs you all. It is the fighting among us that is giving outsiders the impetus to delve into our matters. 

Long Live Ijaw Youth Council 

Long Live Ijaw Nation 

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED:

Amb.  Binebai Yerin Princewill, Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC ) Worldwide.

Niger Delta group warns Arewa youths to beware of Tompolo over unguided statements

Niger Delta group warns Arewa youths to beware of Tompolo over unguided statements

...Urges president Tinubu to renew contract with Tantita

...Says stolen crude is stored in the North, hence the protest

Warri _____ A revered group operating under the auspices of Niger Delta Defenders has cautioned the Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum to be careful with their words against High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpomupolo, popularly known as Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited on the issue of Pipeline Surveillance Security contract renewal. 

The group gave the warning on Tuesday in Warri via a press statement personally signed by Comr. John Gbozimor, President of the Niger Delta Defenders (NDD), stated that Arewa Youth Forum and Northern Youths have no business on protesting or commenting about Niger Delta issues.

Comr. John Gbozimor had particularly called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore the Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum, stressing that their utterances against Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is enough to cause tension in the country as the region will not seat and watch misguided elements coming to insult their father with false allegations. 

However, the group had called on President Bola Tinubu to enter a fresh contract renewal deal with the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, adding that Tompolo is the only man In Niger Delta that can do the job perfectly at the moment. 

President of Niger Delta Defenders,  John Gbozimor asserted that the drastic improvement of the oil and gas revenue in the country since Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services took over the surveillance contract last year speaks volume about his capability. 

Nevertheless, the group said it is aware that corruption in the oil sector  is fighting back,  stating that the group of Northern and Arewa Youths are fighting because the stolen crude is being stored in the Northern part of the country hence they are hired and sponsored to attack the excellent job done by Tompolo via the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited as they are trying by all means to under score and under report Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited wonderful job in curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta. 

"A point must be made known that the Arewa Youth Forum and Northern Youths have no business on protesting or commenting about Niger Delta issues. 

"Tompolo is a pure and stainless hero to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large, we will not allow disrespectful children to tarnish his hard earned reputation. Enough is enough " Niger Delta Defenders warned.

Sylvester Congratulates Oromoni on Appointment as Special Adviser, Salutes Gov. Oborevwori

Sylvester Congratulates Oromoni on Appointment as Special Adviser, Salutes Gov. Oborevwori  

Warri _______  A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief. Sylvester Tiebebedigha (JP), the Doumien-Owei (Peace Maker) of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, has congratulated Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, the immediate past Chairman Delta State Taskforce on Environment, on his new appointment as Special Adviser to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State.

Chief Tiebebedigha in a statement released on Tuesday at Ogbe-ljoh, headquarters of Warri South-West LGA, described his boss, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni's appointment as a well deserved one, saying his selfless contributions to the PDP family and the 2023 Delta State Gubernatorial election cannot be over emphasized.

He noted that Chief. Oromoni is a patriotic Deltan who had served the state excellently in different capacity over the past years, stressing that his new assignment will speed up the  implementation process of the M.O.R.E. AGENDA of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to all Deltans in the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, Chief. Tiebebedigha also appreciated His Excellency, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori in finding Oromoni worthy for the appointment, adding that he will effectively deliver on the new assignment given to him. 

He pray God to protect and give Oromoni the wisdom to advise the Governor rightly in order  to serve Deltans well, the statement added.

Otuaro Writes President Tinubu, Appeals for Tantita Contract Renewal

Otuaro Writes President Tinubu, Appeals for Tantita Contract Renewal 

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, ON THE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR TANTITA SECURITY SERVICES LTD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRUDE OIL THEFT, AND OIL PIPELINE VANDALISM IN THE NIGER DELTA

 

Through:

Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori,

The Governor,

Delta State,

Government House,

Asaba.

 

Dear Mr. President Sir,

A PLEA FOR THE RENEWAL OF CONTRACT FOR TANTITA SECURITY SERVICES LTD TO REINFORCE OUR CONFIDENCE IN YOUR MANTRA OF ‘RENEWED HOPE’ IN THE ECONOMY

 

Your Excellency Sir, the news media has been lately awash with calls on your office to consider the propriety or otherwise of the renewal of the contract for Tantita Security Services Limited, a company allegedly owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, contracted to secure national oil and gas assets and fight the thieving of crude oil with the NNPCL and Nigerian Security Agencies in the Niger Delta.

 I am constrained to write this open letter to your office as the immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State with substantial knowledge of the menace of crude oil theft and vandalism of its infrastructure on one hand, and as a native of Okerenkoko and Obotobo Communities in Warri South West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State that are amongst other communities, the host to the trans-Escravos pipeline and the 200km trans-Forcados pipeline, respectively. 

The latter is the second largest pipeline in the Niger Delta Region that evacuates crude oil from the Western Delta to the Forcados oil export terminal with an export capacity of 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. I am worried because Nigeria undoubtedly is a mono-economy that is majorly reliant on crude oil and gas receipts.

 Our national and sub-national governments’ budgets, almost always have been tripodal on crude oil and gas sales, tax receipts that are inextricably linked to the oil and gas subsidiary investments, and external and internal borrowings.

Thus, any shock in the sector, whether man-made or natural cause, adversely impacts the economy. This is the more reason the Presidency must be circumspect, and cannot afford to make an error of judgment in the ongoing campaign of calumny and divisiveness against the partners in progress; Tantita Security Services Ltd, the NNPCL and the Nigerian Navy, in their patriotic fight against the syndicated criminal activities of crude oil theft and vandalism of its infrastructure. 

After all, it is a notorious fact that the fight against the menace of oil theft, and the destruction of national oil and gas assets has already made tremendous progress. If so,  why the ridiculous and untenable ‘hue and cry’ to change a winning team? 

It is important that our budding confidence in your mantra of ‘Renewed Hope’ should be kept alive as the economically impoverished citizenry battles for survival amidst the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

The aftermath of the 2015 general election which brought in your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari into office witnessed unprecedented and successive breaches of critical oil and gas facilities including the famous trans-Forcados delivery pipeline on the 27th May 2016, and that amongst other factors accounted for the country being plunged into recessionary times as there was a drastic drop in crude oil production and a dip in its price in the international market to an all-time low 24 dollars per barrel. 

Responsively, the then Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led government of Delta State constituted the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Assets Destruction and I became Chairman of the committee. No sooner was the inauguration of the committee, we hit the creeks of the oil-producing communities by embarking on aggressive advocacy campaigns against oil assets destruction. 

The Committee went to the oil-producing communities in the Benin River and its tributaries that opened up into some communities in Edo and Ondo states. We traversed the oil-producing communities along the famous Escravos and Forcados Rivers in Delta state and further down to the oil-producing communities at the Delta and Bayelsa fringes of the Ramos River.

Your Excellency, the Presidency invited me to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to help articulate the issues underscoring the resurgence of violent attacks on national oil and gas assets as well as producing a blueprint for a Presidential visit to states in the Niger Delta.

 I was further co-opted as an individual from the Niger Delta States to attend the Inter-Ministerial Committee meetings on the Niger Delta headed by the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo. The government saddled the Committee with the avowed responsibility of addressing topical issues concerning the Niger Delta such as the then ongoing unrest in the region, the Ogoni clean-up, and the Nigerian Maritime Okerenkoko, to mention but a few.

Your Excellency, it suffices to say that I was in no small measure involved in working out the details and itinerary of the Presidential visit to the various states in the region headed by the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and assisted by the former Minister for State Petroleum, and former Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. It began on the 16th of January, 2017 in Delta State, and in other states in the region. 

It is very important to state currently, that one of the conscientious outcomes of the Presidential visit to the region was the procurement of the services of the Tantita Security Services Limited to partner with the Nigerian Navy and NNPCL to intensify the fight against crude oil theft and secure national oil and gas assets from destruction.

Having the capability and profound understanding to handle the complexities and sophistication that characterize the syndicated criminal activities of oil theft, oil assets vandalism, and mitigation of environmental despoliation in the region, Tantita Security Services Limited is a square peg in a square hole.

Please accept the assurances of my highest regard.

Yours sincerely,

 Dcn. Kingsley Otuaro Esq.

Immediate Past Deputy Governor of Delta State.

FLOOD: Delta Govt Sets Up 14-Man 2023 Flood Mgt Committee

FLOOD: Delta Govt Sets Up 14-Man 2023 Flood Mgt Committee  

Asaba _____ The Delta State Government has constituted a 14-man 2023 Flood Disaster Management Committee. 

Inaugurating the Committee on Tuesday in Asaba, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, charged members to ensure sensitization of citizens of the state, especially those living in coastal communities to move to higher grounds. 

Members of the 2023 flood disaster management Committee include; Dr. Kingsley Emu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) as Chairman, Hon. Ejiro Terry, Commissioner for Special Duties as Co- Chairman, Mr Jamani Ejiro, Commissioner for Environment, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, Commissioner for Health, Dr Kingsley Ashibuogwu, Commissioner for Primary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, Commissioner for Secondary Education, and Orode Uduaghan, Commissioner Humanitarian Affairs, Social and Girl Child Developement. 

Other members include Barr. Funyei Manager, Commissioner, Special Projects, Hon. Victor Ebonka, Chairman, ALGON, Chief Jaro Egbo, Special Adviser, Transport, Barr. Lyna Ocholor, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Karo Ovemeso, Executive Secretary SEMA, Sir. Festus Ahon, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Mr. Greg Ejowomu, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Special Duties. 

Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the committee, the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Dr. Kingsley Emu charged the members to be diligent with the assignment as a lot depended on them to see that the actual flood victims are adequately catered for.

The SSG also stated that jingles to sensitize the public is being aired in various media houses which has been going on for the past two weeks, with a view to enlightening the public on the need to take precaution by moving out from flood prone areas to avoid being caught-up by the impending flood. 

The SSG also noted that plans were on the way to set up camps in the flood impacted areas of the state to accommodate those who may be affected by the impending flood. 

He gave the terms of reference of the committee to include; To propose appropriate measures for the prevention and management of flooding, address displacement of people and suggest ways for provision of relieve materials to victims. 

According to the SSG, members of the public are advised to call the following numbers when they become distressed from the flood affecting their communities for government intervention. 

The numbers are 08064137841 and 08037200696.

Nigerian Navy Lies Against Tantita Staff Over Arrest of Oil Theft_Mgt

Nigerian Navy Lies Against Tantita Staff Over Arrest of Oil Theft_Mgt

Press releases

1st September, 2023

THE ARREST OF TANTITA OPERATIVES AND PARADE BY THE NIGERIAN NAVY - A TRAGICOMEDY OF ERRORS

Yesterday the 31st of August 2023 the world woke up to a news story credited to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT of the Nigeria Navy, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, that the Nigerian Navy arrested four Tantita personnel for alleged crude oil theft. It would have been comedy, if it was not also tragedy.

The Navy is a constitutional institution mandated to keep Nigeria's seaward borders safe from invasion, criminality and free for economic activities. Tantita respects the institution and its constitutional mandate. And it was out of that respect that a couple of weeks ago when there was a face off between the service and Tantita over the MT Praisel, our organisation preferred to leave the Nigerian Navy to have the last word on the issue. It was our belief at the time that the matter was a misunderstanding which could have been better handled for the good of the nation and the common objective of Tantita and the Navy - the prevention of economic sabotage by oil thieves plying their nefarious trade on our nation's waterways.

However the present incident, coming barely three weeks after, does not seem to support that notion. What seems to be playing is a poorly written tragicomedy. The Nigerian Navy's story is that in the early hours of August 29, 2023 there was an attempt by Tantita operatives to steal crude which they foiled. They claim to have been responding to distress calls from youths in Itolou Community in the Lekki axis of Lagos, and "reviewing the information, Naval patrol teams immediately launched a response operation. Upon arrival at the scene, the Naval team met 4 individuals dressed in black polo shirts with TANTITA inscribed on the back, trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine from a local. The team recovered the engine and apprehended the 4 Tantita Employees."

According to the Nigerian Navy's statement, "It was after this arrest that the patrol team realized that the 4 individuals are part of a movement of a large wooden boat laden with 11 x 1000L Geepee tanks with product suspected to be stolen crude oil."

So it would be seen that at the time of the arrest, the only crime that the Tantita operatives were alleged to have committed was trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine. Thus, recovering outboard engines is now a crime. More interesting is the absence of a link between the outboard engine recovery story and the sudden epiphany - the realization by the navy patrol team that the four individuals they arrested are part of a movement of a large wooden boat at sea carrying stolen crude oil. The disjoint in the story is jarring.

On the other hand, this is what happened in fact. On Monday the 28th of August 2023 at about 0130hours a Tantita Security Services Patrol team operating in the Ondo State area received credible intelligence that a motorised wooden boat was illegally loading crude oil from an Offshore Oil Well Jacket - in fact the same Well Jacket in OML 110 operated by Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria Limited, where the MT TURA II was caught stealing Crude Oil a few months ago.

An advance team was dispatched to find the wooden boat while a back up team consisting of Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) component of the Government Security Agencies (GSA) was assembled to follow through on the lead. While we cannot name the NSCDC personnel for obvious reasons, they were six in number and our personnel were eight not four in number. The advance team with the help of local fisherfolk was able to determine that the motorised wooden boat was heading in the direction of Lagos and gave hot pursuit. Upon noticing the approaching Tantita teams the crew of the motorised wooden boat abandoned the wooden boat for their speed boat. One team of Tantita and NSCDC personnel boarded the wooden boat to secure the evidence while another team gave it a hot pursuit.

There is video evidence of the Tantita team together with NSCDC personnel coming alongside the wooden boat, boarding and attempting to secure the boat.

The video also shows the Tantita crew trying to secure the wooden boat which was taking in water (this could have resulted from an attempt to scuttle the boat by the escaping crew; anyone who understands Yoruba can listen in on the conversations).

Surprisingly the escaping crew of the motorised wooden boat fled in the direction of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base at Ibeju-Lekki, so the Tantita and NSCDC personnel followed in hot pursuit believing that the criminals would meet their Waterloo there. They were wrong. Instead of the fleeing crew being arrested, it was the Tantita personnel who came down to apprehend the fleeing crew that was arrested. After arresting Tantita personnel and freeing the crew, the Nigerian Navy personnel then went to the motorised wooden boat and drove out the combined Tantita/GSA team trying to keep the boat and the evidence afloat.

The Nigerian Navy press release was nothing but a smear campaign, the Navy has been sharing pictures in social media of the Tantita staff in their custody in various shades of undress but kept silent about the names of the boat crew whom they were chasing? In short, where is the crew that the Tantita personnel chased into Ibeju Lekki?

Most importantly, where is the boat now? You can clearly see the boat in the video provided below. Did the Nigerian Navy secure the boat? Can the Nigerian Navy explain the whereabouts of the motorised wooden boat? They were the last seen with the boat.

Nigerians can see why we are forced to say that the Nigerian Navy's press release was nothing but a smear campaign against Tantita and possibly a cover up. Is it possible that the Nigerian Navy deploys costly assets in these days of expensive petrol/diesel to respond communal distress calls involving commercial disputes as to ownership of outboard engines? Again, let us assume for the sake of argument that the distress call was with respect to shooting in Itolou community in Lekki area of Lagos State, what became of that investigation? Can the Navy tell the nation, after four days of investigation, who was shooting?

The time frames here are important. Tantita patrol team took off at 0130hrs (1:30 at night) on Monday 28th August 2023, and spotted the wooden boat at approximately 1400hours (2 in the afternoon) same Monday 28th August 2023 and were arrested by the Navy a few hours later on Monday 28th of August 2023. Why then did the Navy press release say it arrested Tantita personnel on Tuesday 29th August 2023? Why is the Navy saying it arrested 4 persons when in fact it arrested 5?

The Nigerian Navy is quite good at publicising videos of their personnel boarding vessels suspected of conveying illicit crude and refined products. Where is the Navy's video of boarding this wooden boat and arresting the Tantita personnel? How do you arrest oil thieves you claimed were using a wooden boat to steal crude oil, on land? If indeed Tantita personnel were stealing crude with a boat, why did they need to abandon their wooden boat laden with crude oil, tens of nautical miles away from the crime scene to recover a dismantled outboard engine when the wooden boat had working engines? There are too many gaps in the Navy press release.

In one breathe the Nigerian Navy is saying Tantita employees were caught trying to steal an outboard engine and in another breathe they are saying the Tantita operatives were arrested for trying to forcibly employ the owner of the boat to do their bidding. Quite interesting.

The arrest for four days and parade of Tantita staff by the Nigerian Navy as common criminals is to be deprecated by all right thinking members of society; at a time when our nation is in dire straits with the unparalleled loss of revenue from a monocultural export-based economy, these family men put their lives at risk for the good of the nation and are now being made to suffer ridicule for doing the right thing. It serves to demoralise good men everywhere who have sought and are seeking to do something to better our nation.

As soon as these men were arrested the management of Tantita reached out to the Nigerian Navy seeking clarification of the situation, for four days the Navy said they were investigating and that the men would be released. We now have the outcome of their investigation in that poorly digested press release.

There are even more damning revelations, which out of courtesy to the Navy hierarchy and the needs of national security we will not divulge on the pages of a newspaper. The continued detention by the Nigerian Navy of these five brave, selfless Nigerians who risked their lives on the high seas to protect our commonwealth is a disservice to our nation.

Signed:

Management Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.